Following the launch of Project Execution Team (PET), the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez intensified its enforcement activities on compliance with product standards and fair trade laws, not only in the National Capital Region (NCR) but also in the regions and provinces.
This is being done by the DTI through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) which conducts special enforcement activities on fair trade laws particularly on products under DTI’s mandatory certification schemes in Metro Manila (MM), Region 1 and Region 4A for the months of August to September. Other regions will also be covered.
Project ET includes the collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) that are crucial in providing intelligence information and police enforcement assistance to discourage unscrupulous traders from even carrying products known to be substandard or without proper markings. [U1] [U2]
As of 06 September 2017, a total of 1,203 firms (867 in Region 4A, 177 in Region 1, and 159 in MM) were monitored particularly on fair trade laws such as Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, RA 4109 or the Product Standards Law, and Presidential Decree No. 1572 or the Accreditation Law.
Of 1,203 firms monitored, 72 firms were issued with Notices of Violation (NOVs) for alleged violation of the provisions of Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2 series of 2007, the products lack the required markings, which means it did not undergo the testing required by the government to attest for safety of its use.
In observance of due process, these firms were given within 48 hours to respond to the NOV before the nearest DTI office in their area. A formal charge shall be filed against erring establishments.
DTI-FTEB Officer-in-Charge, Ferdinand L. Manfoste detailed that 7,033 products with violations were withdrawn and sealed with an estimated value of at least half a million pesos.
On monitored steel bars and Portland cement, products at the point of sale were found compliant with the requirements of DAO 2:2007. Thus, to ensure compliance with the provisions of DAO No. 2:2007, Defining the Responsibilities and Liabilities of the Manufacturers, Importers and Traders, DTI will still continue with its monitoring activities nationwide to further safeguard the life, safety and health of the public against unscrupulous business practices.
PET is another flagship program of the DTI aiming to enforce fair trade laws not only in the NCR but also in the regions and provinces.
PET campaigns “No to Dugaslord” and makes use of two main hashtags such as #SaktoDapat (must be precise) and #KitaKita (I see you) which conveys the Department as consumers’ watchdog against unscrupulous business practices that provides wrong PLTK – Presyo, Label, Timbang and Kalidad.
To report business establishments selling substandard and uncertified products, visit the nearest DTI office in your area. Consumers may also call FTEB’s Mediation Division at 824.4228 or 975.7965 to file complaints.
You may also visit our social networking sites and follow us at DTI.Saktodapat on Facebook and DTI Sakto Dapat on Twitter for more updates. (DTI)
